Bible: Ezra 9-10

A Prayer of Ezra

9:1Now when thesethings had been completed, the leadersapproachedmeand said, “The peopleof Israel, the priests, and the Leviteshave notseparatedthemselves from the localresidents1who practice detestablethings similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.9:2Indeed, they have takensome of their daughtersas wives for themselvesand for their sons, so that the holyrace2has become intermingled with the localresidents. Worse still, the leadersand the officialshave beenat the forefrontof all of this!”

9:3When I heardthisreport, I toremy tunicand my robeand rippedout some of the hairfrom my headand beard. Then I satdown, quite devastated.9:4Everyonewho held the wordsof the Godof Israelin awe3gatheredaround me because of the unfaithful actsof the people of the exile.4Devastated, Icontinued to sitthere untilthe eveningoffering.

9:8 “But nowbriefly9we havereceived mercyfrom theLordour God, in that he has leftus a remnantand has givenus a secure position10in his holyplace. Thus our Godhas enlightenedour eyes11and has givenus a littlereliefin our time of servitude.9:9Althoughweare slaves, our Godhas notabandonedus in our servitude. He has extendedkindnessto usin the sight of the kingsof Persia, in that he has revivedus12 to restore thetempleof our Godand to raise13 upits ruinsand to giveus a protective wallin Judahand Jerusalem.14

9:10 “And nowwhatare we able to sayafterthis, our God? For wehave forsakenyour commandments9:11whichyou commandedus throughyour servantsthe prophetswith these words:15 ‘The landthatyouare enteringto possessis a landdefiled by the impuritiesof the localresidents!16 With theirabominationsthey havefilledit from one end tothe other with their filthiness.9:12Thereforedo notgiveyour daughtersin marriage to their sons, and do nottaketheir daughtersin marriage for your sons. Do notever seektheir peaceor welfare, so thatyou may be strongand may eatthe goodof the landand may leave it as an inheritanceforyour children17forever.’

9:13 “Everythingthat has happenedto us has comeabout becauseof our wickedactionsand our greatguilt. Even so, our God, youhave exercised restraint18toward our iniquitiesand have givenus a remnantsuch as this.9:14Shall we once againbreakyour commandmentsand intermarrywith theseabominablepeoples? Would you notbe so angeredbyus that you would wipeus out, with nosurvivoror remnant?9:15O LordGodof Israel, youare righteous, forwe are leftas a remnantthisday. Indeed, we stand beforeyou in our guilt. However, becauseof thisguilt19 no onecan really standbeforeyou.”

The People Confess Their Sins

10:1While Ezrawas prayingand confessing, weepingand throwing himself to the groundbeforethe templeof God, a verylargecrowdof Israelites– men, women, and children alike – gathered around him. The people wept loudly.2010:2ThenShecaniahsonof Jehiel, from the descendantsof Elam,21addressedEzra:

10:5So Ezragot upand made the leadingpriestsand Levitesand allIsraeltake an oathto carry outthisplan.28And they all took a solemn oath.10:6Then Ezragot upfrom in front ofthe templeof Godand wenttothe roomof Jehohanansonof Eliashib. While he stayed29there, he did noteatfoodordrinkwater, forhe was in mourningoverthe infidelityof the exiles.

10:7A proclamation30was circulated31throughout Judahand Jerusalem32that allthe exileswere to be assembledin Jerusalem.10:8Everyonewhodid notcomewithin threedayswould thereby forfeitallhis property, in keeping with the counselof the officialsand the elders. Furthermore, he himself would be excludedfrom the assemblyof the exiles.

10:9Allthe menof Judahand Benjaminwere gatheredin Jerusalemwithin the threedays. (It wasin the ninthmonth, on the twentiethday of that month.) Allthe peoplesatin the squareat the templeof God, tremblingbecause of this matterand because of the rains.

Those Who Had Taken Foreign Wives

10:18Itwas determined40that from the descendants ofthe priests, the followinghadtaken foreignwives: from the descendantsof Jeshuasonof Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.10:19(They gavetheir word41to send awaytheir wives; their guilt offeringwas a ramfrom the flockfor their guilt.)